Sterilizing apparatus



Feb 1936. J. E. MYERS ET AL STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1934 6 INVENTOR.

BY ML, M 7m ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE STERILIZING APPARATUS Application February 3, 1934, Serial No. 709,588

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the construction and operation of sterilizing apparatus for toilet articles such as tooth brushes or the like.

Generally defined, an object of the invention is to provide an improved dry-heat sterilizer which is simple in construction and highly efiective in use.

While it has heretofore been proposed as shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,873,- 627, granted August 23, 1932, tosterilize individual tooth brushes or the like by placing the object within a heat conducting sheath formed of wire gauze or screening so as to permit dry-heat sterilization; while preventing direct access of the flame to the object, this prior method does not permit effective utilization of the available heat. The use of gauze or screening is, however, very effective in preventing direct access of the flame to the objects, but if the objects are permitted to contact directly with the heated sheath, they are apt to become scorched or otherwise damaged.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for utilizing the prior method of dry-sterilization to some extent, but which will insure most efiicient utilization of the available heat While at the same time preventing possible damage to the objects being treated.

Another specific object of the. invention is to provide an improved dry-heat sterilizer wherein the applied heat is most effectively distributed so as to insure uniform heat treatment of all portions of the objects, and wherein one or more of the objects may be simultaneously sterilized.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide animproved tooth brush sterilizer or the like, for heat treating elongated objects by causing the heat to travel through elongated channels within which the brushes are located, the channels preferably being disposed vertically so as to secure the benefit of natural circulation of the heated air which is utilized as a sterilizing medium.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved dry-heat sterilizing casing which may be readily manufactured, and improved means for detachably suspending the easing from a wall or other support without marring the same.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide a sterilizer for tooth brushes or other toilet articles, which may be conveniently assembled or dismantled for cleaning purposes, and which may be operated without danger.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide improved dry-heat sterilizing apparatus which is compact and durable in construction, which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost, and which may be utilized for diverse sterilizing purposes by a novice.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the various improved features, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing tooth brush sterilizers built in accordance with the present invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional front elevation of an I improved multiple, dry-heat, tooth brush sterilizer;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the so as to more clearly show the cover structure; N

Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal section through the sterilizer, taken along the line 44 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a top View of the flame baflie and heat distributor.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a dry-heat sterilizer for tooth brushes, it is not intended to thereby limit the invention since some of the novel features are obviously more generally applicable to other types of sterilizing equipment.

Referring to the drawing, the dry-heat sterilizer shown therein by way of illustration, comprises in general a main casing 8 preferably constructed of a single sheet of metal and having therein a partition insert 9 forming four upright passages or compartments in; a multiple heat permeable screen I l confined within the casing 8 and spanning the corresponding lower ends of the compartments ID; a heat distributor I2 carried by the casing B beneath the screen I I a cover I3 hingedly connected to the insert 9 and forming a closure for the upper corresponding ends of the compartments l0; and means such as suction cups l4, l5 for detachably suspending the sterilizer from a wall or the like.

As above indicated, the main casing 8 may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal, with the aid of punches and dies, and the lower part of this casing 8 has angular wall portions it formed integral with the casing side walls and forming a direct support for the screen I l and distributor 62, between the front and rear walls of the main casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The partition insert e may likewise be constructed of a single piece of sheet metal by folding the partition walls i 'i as shown in Fig. 4, and the lower ends of these walls normally rest upon the screen H which in turn rests upon the upper extremities of the wall portions 96. Each of the side walls and partition walls ll of the insert 3, is provided at its lower end with an integral lateral extension 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, for supporting an object such as a tooth brush l9 confined within the ad jacent flue it, above and out of contact with the screen i l in the manner illustrated in Fig. l, and the cover l3 which may also be formed of sheet metal is pivotally attached to the upper extremities of the side walls of the insert 9 and has slots 28 therein for receiving the tooth brush handles while the brushes are being sterilized within the compartments it. A flexible rubber seal 2i supported on top of the cover it, has slits 22 for receiving the tooth brush handles, and serves to prevent undesirable escape of heat from the compartments ii] past these handles when the cover is closed.

The distributor I2 is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and may be formed either of sheet metal or of screening, and has cut-outs 28 at the sides and ends thereof, as indicated in Fig. 5. The distributor l2 has suspension hooks 24 at the corners thereof, and is moreover of angular formation so as to direct the flame applied by a lamp 25 or otherwise, toward the front and rear cutouts 23 and along the upper wall portions [6 into all portions of the heat distributing zone 25 located between the distributor l2 and the screen H. The screen it is also preferably formed of several superimposed layers of screening having the meshes staggered so as to further enhance the uniform delivery of heat to the compartments iii; and it will be noted that the portions of the extensions l8 which coact directly with the screen it, are cut away so as to cause minimum obstruction to the flow of heating air. It will be apparent, that with this assemblage of elements, the screen it will be protected from direct contact with the flame which impinges only against the distributor l2, and that uniform distribution of the heat is insured.

The suction cups M, l may be of the ordinary rubber type having threaded integral studs 27 adapted to engage threaded openings in the rear Wall of the casing 8 as shown in Fig. 2. The lower suction cup 15 is preferably located as far as possible away from the heating flame, as shown, and the rubber of these cups will prevent accidental overheating of the wall to which the sterilizer is attached, both because of the insulating quality of the rubber and because of the spacing afforded by the cups. The rear wall of the main casing 8, may, however, be provided with a suspension opening 28 in addition to the cups l4, l5 for permitting ordinary suspension of the device in case the cups become inelfective.

During normal use of the improved sterilizer, the device is suspended from a wall in an obvious manner with the aid of suction cups !4, l5, and the tooth brushes iii are inserted in the compartments H] as indicated in Fig. l, the cover I 3 being closed and the seal 2! serving to effectively prevent undesirable escape of heated gases from the top of the sterilizer. A lamp 25 may then be applied as shown, and as the flame strikes the deflector l2 it is caused to spread through the distributing zone 28, whereupon the heated gases permeate through the screen H and into the compartments 89. By virtue of the formation and. location of the distributor E2, the heating gases are uniformly distributed within the zone 26, and by staggering the meshes of the screening constituting the screen 1!, the heated gases are furthermore uniformly distributed through the sterilizing compartments it). While the distributor l2 may become relatively hot, and the screen H may also become rather highly heated depending upon the period for which sterilization is being effected, the extensions i8 upon which the bristles of the brushes l9 rest, do not become sumciently heated to damage the brushes. After sterilization of the brushes !9 has been eflfecte'd, they may be readily removed by merely swinging the cover i3 rearwardly whereupon the handles of the brushes will pass through the slits 22 in the seal 2|.

It will also be apparent that the construction, assemblage and dismantling of the improved sterilizer may be conveniently effected due to the formation of the main casing 8 of sheet metal, and also due to the mode of associating the other elements with the main casing. The insert 9 together with the cover 13 may be freely upwardly removed from within the main casing 8, and thereafter the screen II and distributor l2 may likewise be freely withdrawn. This feature is of importance since it permits convenient access to all portions of the sterilizer for cleaning, and when the insert 9 and cover l3 have been removed, the space above the screen ll may be utilized for sterilizing larger objects than the tooth brushes 9. The studs 21 of the suction cups l4, l5 permit convenient attachment of these cups to the main casing, or removal therefrom, and these cups additionally serve to prevent overheating of the wall to which the sterilizer is attached. The entire device may be appropriately decorated to provide a highly finished appearance, and the distributor l2 which is subjected to the intense heat by virtue of its direct contact with the flame, may be renewed when necessary without necessity of renewing other parts of the apparatus. If desired, the distributor l2 may be perforated or formed of screening instead of sheet metal, and the rubber seal 2| may be disposed beneath the cover l3 as an alternative to the disposition thereof as shown. It will be apparent, that even if the distributor I2 is entirely omitted, the screen II will permit propagation of the heat to the compartments 10, while preventing the flame from entering these compartments and thereby injuring the bristles of the brushes [9.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of use herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dry-heat sterilizer comprising, a main casing having a heat distributing chamber in the lower portion thereof and a series of segregated compartments extending upwardly from said chamber, a screen interposed between the topof said chamber and the lower ends of said compartments, a bafile plate at the bottom of said chamber spaced from the side walls thereof,

means for applying heat to said chamber centrally beneath said plate and remote from said screen, and a removable closure for the upper ends of said compartments.

2. A dry-heat sterilizer comprising, a main casing having a heat distributing chamber in the lower portion thereof, a series of partitions forming segregated compartments within said casing extending upwardly from said chamber, a screen interposed between said chamber and said partitions, a bafile plate in the lower end of said chamber spaced from the side walls thereof, means for applying heat to said screen from beneath said plate and through said chamber, and a removable closure for the upper ends of said compartments including a flexible heat confining seal.

3. A dry-heat sterilizer comprising, a main casing having an upwardly expanding heat distributing chamber in the lower portion thereof, a series of removable partitions forming segregated compartments within said casing above said chamber, a screen separating said chamber from said compartments, a central baille plate at the lower constricted end of said chamber spaced from the side walls: thereof, means for applying heat to the lower end of said chamber beneath said central bame and remote from said screen,

and a removable closure for the ends of said compartments remote from said screen.

4. A dry-heat sterilizer comprising, a main casing having a lower heat distributing chamber and a series of segregated compartments extendin upwardly from said chamber, a screen interposed between the top of said chamber and the lower ends of said compartments, a bafile plate at the bottom of said chamber spaced from the side walls thereof, and means for applying heat to said chamber around the edges of said plate remote from said screen.

5. A dry-heat sterilizer comprising, a main casing having a lower heat distributing chamber and a series of segregated compartments extending upwardly from said chamber, the lower end of said chamber being restricted and the upper end being materially larger in area than said lower end, a screen interposed between said upper chamber end and the lower ends of said compartments, a baflle plate disposed within the restricted lower end of said chamber, and means for applying heat to said chamber from beneath said bafile plate and around the peripheral edges thereof.

JAMES E. MYERS. WILLIAM F. SIMONSEN. 

